Means for stopping the flow of fluids under pressure



1934- c, c. HOSMER 1,970,964

MEANS FOR STOPPING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS UNDER PRESSURE Filed Jan. 19. 1931 I N VEN TOR 015s TER C. Hos/me Patented Aug. 21, 1934 UNITED. STATES MEANS FOR STOPPING-THE FLOW 0 FLUIDS UNDER PRESSURE Chester 0. Hosmer, Long Beach, Calif.

Application January 19, 1931, Serial No. 509,755

7 Claims. (01. 251 51) This invention relates to devices for stopping the flow of a fluid, either gas or a liquid, or a mixture of the same, when'under heavy pressure. More specifically, it relates to valves for checking -or stopping the flow of oil or gas, or both oil and gas, from a well, and it will be so described here?- in. In drilling, or in the operation of oil wells, it not infrequently happens that gas, or oil under a heavy gas pressure, breaks into the well and spurts out of the same. Usually the pressure is very great and, under the most favorable conditions, it is difficult to stop or check the flow with devices now available. The gas and oil are liable to ignite and, when this happens, it is indeed a I problem as to how the flow can'be stopped. It has been proposed to employ a sliding valve and to control it from a remote point by hydraulic or pneumatic means. But such a valve has been unsatisfactory in use for the reason that, in order to lstop the flow, it is necessary that the valve be packed so as completely to close the well casing and, owing to the tremendous pressure below the valve, it is almost impossible to slide it into its closed position. If it be forced while subjected to this pressure the packing is generally destroyed or is so damaged that it is incapable of functioning effectively.

It is the object of my invention to provide a valve which can be opened and closed against any lpressure encountered in an oil well, and that without damage to the packing with which the valve is provided. While my present preferred embodiment of the invention is as shown in the accompanying drawing and described specifically herein, it is obvious that changes in details are possible, and I desire it understood that the ac-.

companying claims are not intended to be limited to the details shown and described any farther than their specific terms require,

In the drawing, Fig. l is a plan view showing the upper face of the valve casing partially broken away, the valve being in its closed position; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section through the center of the valve structure, as on line 2'-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section through the casing and valve taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on line l4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified form of connection between the valve and its operating rod; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the packing member carried by the valve casing; Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary sectional views showing modifications of the means for de- In Fig; 2 a portion of the well casing is desig nated 5. To it is connected, through any suitable member 6, the casing of a slide valve 7, said casing being shown as rectangular and as comprising a lower member 8 with upwardly extending side and end flanges and a top member 9, the latter being securely bolted to said flanges, as shown. Within the flanges and between the members 8 and 9 is the valve chamber 10, the upper surface of which is designated 9a. In line with the well casing, the said members are provided with apertures 11 and 11a, respectively, thereby forming a passage for the gas and oil when the valve '7 is'open. In the drawing, BX". cept in Fig. 6, the valve is shown'in its closed position; but the chamber 10 is elongated and the valve is opened by moving it tothe right to substantially the. end of the chamber. This movement is 'efiected through any suitable means, as by a rod 12 which is attached to the righthand edge of the valve and is extended through the corresponding endfiange of the casing member 8, being preferably surrounded by a stumng gland 13 to preventleakageof the gas or oil. In practice, the rod 12 would be moved preferably by fluid pressure," as by water, air or steam, which may be controlled from a remote point.

This, however, forms no part of my present invention and further description and illustration are deemed unnecessary.

Within a circular groove in the upper surface of the valve 7 is a packing member 14. This may be composed of any suitable material or com.- bination of materials. It is in the form of acontinuous ring with an inner diameter substantially equal to that of the aperture 11a in. the casing member 9. While I prefer to use a ringshaped packingv 14, as shown, other formsof packing maybe employed, .it simply being required that it close against the surface 9a about the aperture 11a. It is obvious that it maybe a fiat disk orplate set into the upper surface of the valve. When the valve is closed, as shown, this packing member surrounds the said aperture, and the pressure below the valve compresses the packing and thus shuts off all flow of fluidof any kind. This pressure issupplemented in a slight degree by .a pair of flat springs 15 on the under side of the valve, there being a spring adjacerit each of the side edges thereof, as indicated in Fig. 1. The principal function of these springs, however, is to support the valve from the upper surface'of the casing member 8 as the valve is moved to open or close it. Since, as will be shown,

the valve is movable vertically to a slight extent,

these springs are hooked .at their ends over pins constitute roller bearings for the valve and also ing member away from the surface 9a. As will be noted from Fig. 1, the wheels at one end of the valve are spaced differently from those at the other end. The reason for this will be stated hereinafter.

In order to permit the valve to rise and compress the packing member about the aperture 11a, as shown in Fig. 2, the casing member 9 is provided with a series of pockets 18 in its under side, there being a pocket for each of the wheels 17. These pockets are so. placed that the wheels snap upwardly into them when the valve has been moved in closing until the packing is substantially in position to surround the aperture 11a, and they are of sufiicient depth to allow the packing to be compressed against the surface 911. In operation, therefore, the wheels roll upon the surface 9a with but little resistance, holding the packing out of engagement with said surface until the end of the closing movement is substantially reached, when the wheels roll into the pockets and allow the valve to rise to close and compress the packing. little effort and without damage to the packing, the passage for the gas and oil through the aperture 11a is completely closed. However, as a practical matter in the operation of oil wells, it is necessary to provide means for permitting the oil and gas to escape from beneath the valve. For that purpose, the flanges of the casing member 8 are provided with apertures for relief pipes 19 and 1911 which are each furnished with valves, not shown, for controlling the fiow of the fluid and relieving the pressure in the well. The valve through the said aperture' For forcing the packing away from its seat to relieve the gas pressure or in preparation for opening the valve, I provide in. each of the pockets 18a pressure block 21 which is swiveled ,to the lower end of a screw or bolt 22 threaded through the upper member 9 of the valve casing, a suitable packing gland surrounding the screw to prevent leakage of gas or oil. By turning these screws downwardly, the pressure blocks are caused to push the wheels 1'7 out of their respective pockets 18. As soon as the packing is separated from the surface 9a, the pressure fluid may escape and the separation may be made suificient as materially to reduce the pressure below the valve. As soon as the wheels are lowered until their upper surfaces are substantially flush with the said surface, the valve may be readily opened.

The rod 12 may be secured tov the valve 7 in any suitable way which will permit the ..valve to move'up and down. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the valve 7 is provided with a lug 23 having parallel sides. Side links 24 are pivoted to the said Thus, with lug and to the adjacent flattened end of the rod 12, it being understood that the rod does not partake of the vertical movement of the valve. In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of connecting means between the rod and the valve, in which a plate 25 is secured to the end of the rod and is adapted to play up and down in a slot in the valve near its edge, the said edge being slotted vertically .at 26 to permit the valve to move relatively to the end of the rod.

The wheels 17 are differently spaced on the valve in order that each wheel may run on its own track. If they were spaced alike, a wheel would snap into a pocket intended for another wheel and before the valve had reached its closing position.

Fig. 6 shows the packing ring 14a seated within an annular groove in the casing member 9 concentric with the aperture lla. The valve 7a is in its open position, being held below the plane of the lower face of the packing by the roller 17 which is in contact with the surface 9a. As in the structure of Figs. 1 to 4, the rollers snap into pockets in, the member 9 when the valve is substantially centered below the aperture 11a to compress the packing member. In this modification,

the upper surface of the valve would be plain inthose portions which engage the packing.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modified means for forcing the wheels 17 out of the pockets. The valve 7b is provided with a cam surface 27 with which engages the tapered or cam-shaped end of a screw 28 which projects through the flange of the casing member 8. As illustrated, the screw has been turned until the valve is almost in its lowest position sothat it may be drawn out. As many, cam surfaces and screws may be employed as may be needed to move the valve bodily away from the surface 9a. 1

, Fig. {shows a still further modification of the means for forcing the wheels outof their pockets. In it, .the pockets 18a are rounded or tapered and the wheelis forced to roll out of the same by one or more pushing screws 29 which extend outwardly through the flange of the member 8.

By the comparatively simple and inexpensive structure thus described, the flow of gas, or oil and gas, can be effectively controlled without damage to the packing and irrespective of the high pres-.- sure to which the valve may be subjected.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A means for stopping the flow of a fluid under pressure comprising a casing having two spaced and parallel surfaces forming the opposite sides of a valve chamber and having a passage for fluid therethrough, a valve slidable within said chamber into and out of register with said passage, said valve being subjected to fluid pressure on one of its sides, means for sliding said valve, means; for holding. the valve out of contact with said surfaces throughout substantially its entire sliding movements, means provided in one of said surfaces for permitting the valve to move automatically under the fluid pressure toward that surface when it is slid into register with said passage to close the latter, and means for positively forcingthe valve away from the last mentioned surface preparatory to starting the opening movement of the valve.

7 2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 having pressure comprising a casing having two spaced and opposing members forming e velve chamber,

said casing having a passage for fluid therethrough and one of said members having a plurality of pockets opening into said chamber, a valve in said chamber, said valve being subjected to fluid pressure on one of its sides, means for moving said valve into and out of register with the said passage, rollers carried by said valve and in rolling contact with the inner surface of the casing member having the pockets therein, said rollers holding the valve away from said casing member and against the fluid pressure while the valve is out of its closing position and the rollers and the pockets being so positioned that the rollers are snapped into said pockets due to the pressure of the fluid when the valve is brought into register with said passage, whereby the valve is brought into contact with the casing member to close said passage, and means for relieving the pressure against the valve when said passage is closed.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 3 having a packing member that is compressed between the valve and easing about said passage when the rollers snap into their respective pockets.

5. In combination, a valve casing having a fluid passage therethrough and a series of pockets in one of its interior walls, a valve within said casing, said valve being subject to the pressure of the fluid tending to move the valve transversely and toward the wall having the said pockets therein, means for moving the valve longimdimllv mm end mm of register with the fluid passage, a plurality of rollers carried by said valve and in rolling contact with the valve casing for holding the valve away from the casing while it is out of register with said passage, said rollers being adapted to roll into the pockets in said valve casing when the valve is brought into register with said passage, whereby the pressure of the fluid causes the rollers to enter their respective pockets and the valve to be brought into contact with the casing about said passage to stop the flow of the fluid therethrough, and means independent of the longitudinal movement of the valve for forcing the rollers out of their pockets against the pressure of the fluid and into position for rolling on the valve casing, whereby the valve may be moved longi-. tudinally to open the passage.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 5 in which the means for forcing the rollers out of their pockets comprises a pressure block for and within each of the said pockets and screws passing outwardly through the casing and contacting said blocks for pressing the repective blocks inwardly 3 against the rollers.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 5 in which the valve is provided with means for yieldingly holding the rollers in contact with the surface of the valve casing upon which they roll.

CHESTER C. HOSMER. 

